Chamber of Fear to Terracotta Warrior: The History of Nike LeBron “China” Editions

LeBron James emerged as a phenom in Akron as a nationally-recognized player for St. Vincent – St. Mary. He became a superstar in Cleveland, winning MVPs and Gold Medals with the Cavaliers. In Miami, he became a Champion, leading the Heat to two straight. LeBron James’ rise to legend-status can be tracked by specific regions, but here in the U.S., we often forget LeBron’s meteoric rise to fame in China, where the basketball crazed country has made the world’s best ballers like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant into god-like beings. LeBron James definitely belongs in that club, and over the last decade, Nike has taken a concerted effort in bringing a special treat to a country boasting the largest population in the world.

In light of today’s official unveiling of the Nike LeBron 11 “Terracotta Warrior”, we’ve decided to take a look back at all the “China” releases from within the LeBron signature line. Nike went through some great lengths in presenting these shoes with reverence to the concept, with finely crafted boxes, individually numbered pairs, incredible graphics, and inspirations from deep within Chinese history and culture ingrained into the design of the shoe. If you’re not familiar with the history of “China” LeBrons by Nike, read on below and stay tuned for the official launch of the “Terracotta” LeBron 11 this October 1st.